New member and puppy

[sakirby]

Hi...I am a new member to bulldogworld.com. before buying a puppy, i read a lot of the threads on this website and they really helped me wait and make a good decision. now, i have oscar, who is an all white frenchie who is 9 weeks old. i knew it was going to be hard work but, i have to admit, i have been a bit overwhelmed but, today is my second full day with him, and i am already getting more used to it. he is really cuddly and a great puppy. one of the things i am dealing with though is his whining and barking. i think he is just scared and getting aquainted to my space but, i don't want to start a bad pattern right away. i left for forty minutes today to go to the store and my boyfriend stayed with him but, ignored him (oscar is in the kitchen where i have the doors blocked off with gates). oscar barked for 25 minutes and then finally went into his crate and hung out. when i came home, he was sleeping in his crate. i ignored him for a bit, and when i saw he was awake and sitting nicely, i paid attention to him. it is so hard to ignore him when he is barking and whining!!! especially at night! i have neighbors! anyway, i am loving him to bits, despite the challenge and all of you have helped out so much with your info and comments!

[adora's mom]

Congrats on your new puppy! I look forward to seeing pictures :)

[franp]

Congratualtions. The first few days/weeks can be overwhelming.But don't worry, you will be fine.

One thing; these are infants. And they do need to be in thier crate for a good amount of time. Play with Oscar for a while, let him potty and put him in his crate. Have the crate near you so he can hear you. But cover it with a light cloth. This seems to help with the crying.

When Dari came to me; I kept her crate next to my bed at night.And during the day it was in the living room.The rule of thumb; they can be in the crate one hour longer than they are old. Oscar is 2 months, so three hours. Let him out to play about an hour or so and then into the crate.

There is a wonderful book by the Monks of New Skete about puppy training. I don't remeber the exact name but Barnes and Noble will have/order it.

fran

[sakirby]

thank you so much for all of your replies. last night, oscar didn't cry once!!! he slept in his crate and went out to the bathroom by himself, and then back into his crate! first night without crying. i did wake him up when i got up to go to the bathroom but, i just stood by his crate for a bit, until he settled down. so far, so good. i am sure there will be set backs but, last night calmed MY nerves at least :rolleyes:

i have considered bringing his crate up to my bedroom but, he can't wander around up there because i have a loft and he could easily fall down the stairs. if the crate was up there, i would have to close him in it. so, i would have to take him down to his wee pads every few hours in the middle of the night, if he was upstairs with me. so, as long as i can get the kitchen to work....i will stick with it. that way, i can leave his crate door open, and he can wander to his bathroom spot and then back into the crate.

ahhhh, we will see. it is overwhelming but, i really appreciate your replies and i am sure i will be posting more stuff/issues later :) thanks again!

[Borgan]

The Monks book is called, "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend". It has some nice things in it, but there was this one bit about corrections where tell you to smack your dog's jaw. I didn't feel comfortable with that.

We had (have) crying problems, too. Not so much at home anymore, but we went to Whistler this weekend (Luna hadn't been before) and we tried to leave her to go out for dinner, she SCREAMED! I think it was the unfamliar place. It seems to me that they like routines and familiarity, so you will probably find your little Oscar settles in nicely over time (maybe a couple weeks).

Incidentally, Luna came to dinner with us - if any of you come to Whistler, it's a very dog-friendly place:)

[franp]

Don't feel bad; Dari is 5 and if I leave her in a strange place she SCREAMS! :eek:

The Monks say to HIT a dog??? Never would I do that EVER! I have read a couple of thier books and used some of thier techniques ; tethering etc. But I would not hit a dog ever..

fran

[Martina]

I liked Jan Ferrel's The Dog Listener better than the Monks of New Skete. It's very similar to NIFIL training and has worked really great for us.

Oh yeah - and Welcome!! Oscar sounds cute as a bug ... can't wait to see photos.

Martina
Gigi & Lola

[sakirby]

thanks for more replies :) you all are such help! i am trying to upload photos of oscar and am having some trouble. how do i make his picture the icon next to my name like you guys all have? i went to upload his pic in the photo gallery but, the picture was too big so, i am working on that. any help on how to make his picture appear as the icon next to my name would be appreciated :) he is being such a good dog today!

[sakirby]

hey, yeah, you are real close. glad you joined. it is so interesting chatting with people. i actually just posted again because oscar is still barking. it is driving me crazy! but, i am sure it will get better. nice to hear from you and glad you joined.

[Carolyn]

Hi there and welcome! Pictures must be less than 100 KB in order to post here. I hope to see pictures of your pup soon! Carolyn

[quinnybear]

hi, i also got a new puppy about a month ago. but he only barks (and its very quiet) when hes playing with the cat. when i picked him up at the airport, i took him right out of his crate, sat on the floor and held him and soothed him for awhile before i brought him home. although i purchased a bed for him, he only takes daytime naps in it. at night he sleeps right beside me. he goes wherever i go . he is my shadow. he never whines or cries but i think its because we have never confined him. he is a black masked red/fawn and he is beautiful ! and he is my life. just give your pup alot of love and attention and he will become content and the whining and barking will stop. :)

[franp]

I think dogs/puppies are like people. Each one is different. Some bark and some don't.It has nothing to do with crating or not.

Now Dari was crated as a pup. I leave for work and she is fine.The only time she cries (at home)is when I do the laundry :confused: No reason..I can spend the entire day with her. The minute I take the laundry cart to go to the basement laundry room ; the yodeling starts.As soon as I walk out the door, It lasts for about 20 seconds..

But I leave for work everyday; she goes and lays down.NO noise.I go out with friends ; NO noise.

Oscar will get used to it. He is wanting attention and may be more vocal than other pups as well as a more alpha pup..

Each dog is an individual.

[Martina]

That's so funny about Dari with the laundry! I agree - each of these dogs is an individual. When I first got Lola she barked and barked when left in the kitchen. I'd sneak up on her and she'd be looking at her reflection in the stove barking at it :lol:. I think she wanted to play! Gigi was a whiner when she first got here. Now the only barking I get is if they're locked in the kitchen (usually the morning) and they need to potty - and I haven't let them out yet. Lola gives two loud yips and then they wait for me to arrive. If I take too long, she gives two more yips.

I wish one of them yodeled